African violet plant named Little Ruby

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Little Ruby characterized by its miniature growth habit; single violet-shaped to semi-double red flowers; strong stems which curve toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; profuse and continuous flowering; dark green, spear-shaped leaves; flowering 10-11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot, and by its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Little Ruby.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation I 463 and is a product of a planned breedingprogram. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by me in thecontrolled breeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany. Thefemale, or seed parent was a cultivar designated 4 Mini. The male, orpollen parent was a cultivar designated 69.

Little Ruby was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inHaffen, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leafcuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

Little Ruby has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in a 4 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville,Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Little Ruby, which in combinationdistinguish this African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Little Ruby will not grow taller than 8 cm.

(2) Single to semi-double red flowers.

(3) Strong wirelike and upright flower stems curving toward the center.

(4) First flash of flowers form a tight bouquet above the leaves.

(5) Profuse flowering; under good growing conditions continuousflowering.

(6) Each plant carries 9-11 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 4 to 5 and more flowers.

(7) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(8) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot.

(9) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(10) Dark green, hairy leaves.

(11) Spear-shaped leaves are 2.0 to 3.0 cm in size.

(12) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the peduncle.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar grown in a 4 cm pot. The plant is pictured ona hand to highlight the miniature size and growth habit of Little Ruby.The colors appearing in the photograph are as true as possible withcolor illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 2 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat, c.v. Little Ruby.

Parentage:

Male parent.--69.

Female parent.--4 Mini.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 6 cm to 8 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately 8-11cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Spear-shaped. Diameter: 20-23 mm wide and 25-28mm long. Texture: Leatherlike. Aspect: Shiny, hairy. Veins: Upperside:visible; underside: well pronounced, light green, shiny; on young leavesred. Color (upperside): Yellow-Green Group 147 between A and B. Color(underside): Yellow-Green Group 147 D, occasional touch of Red-PurpleGroup 49 between A and B. Young leaves are Red-Purple Group 49 between Aand B before they turn green. Petiole: Strong, light green, occasionallypurplish red touch, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Size: 3-4 mm just before opening. Shape: Bell-shaped.Color: Purplish green. Sepals: Five (5). Color: Purplish brown. Calyx:Shape: Funnel-shaped. Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Character:Strong upright, hairy. Color: Purplish brown. Individual flowers: Size:20-24 mm. Shape: Single violet-shaped to semi-double (up to sixadditional petals). Color (upperside): Red-Purple Group 72 between A andB. Under cooler temperatures and more intensive lighting, the red tendsto intensify. Color (underside): Red-Purple Group 74 C. Borne: Eachflower stem carries 4-5 and more flowers on strong, upright pedunclethat are free standing above the leaves, thereby forming a compactbouquet. Flowering habit: Flowers 10-11 weeks after planting an unrootedplantlet.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two (2). Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anthercells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: Yellowish greenwith red touch, 2 mm long. Styles: 4 mm long, red, base of ovary lightgreen and hairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Little Ruby is a super miniature violet, whichdoes not grow taller than 8 cm. The red flowers are single violet-shapedto semi-double having up to 6 additional small petals. On semi-doubleblooms the anthers are sometimes covered up. The flowers arelong-lasting and non-dropping. Under good growing conditions Little Rubywill bloom continuously. A nice bouquet of flowers free standing abovethe dark green, spear-shaped leaves develops approximately 10-11 weeksafter planting an unrooted plantlet. Each of the 9-11 and more strongflower stems carries 4-5 and more flowers.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named LittleRuby, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized byits miniature growth habit; single violet-shaped to semi-double redflowers; strong stems which curve toward the center to form a compactbouquet above the leaves; profuse and continuous flowering; dark green,spear-shaped leaves; flowering 10-11 weeks after planting of unrootedshoot, and by its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.